4 • URNER BARRY'S REPORTER / VOL. 18, NO. 4 / FALL 2023
From the Editor's Desk...
It isn't often in our professional lives that an opportunity comes along
which effectively allows us to wipe the slate clean and start a new
journey. By "new," I don't mean that we erase everything that we have
been taught or which we have been teaching, but rather to look at our
approach with a fresh set of eyes and a livelier step.
Arguably since the 2020 introduction of COVID-19 into our lives, the food
industry has had just such an opportunity. This is true whether focused on the
processing and production side of the business, or in grassroot movements
designed to bring about a greater awareness of easily overlooked matters.
For instance, the crucial role played by the traditional family farm in meeting
global nutritional requirements, and the dire need to attract the greatest
minds of our time into the business of agriculture, are equally impactful to the
current and future health of the food industry. It requires a great deal of subject
matter understanding, creative thinking, compassion, and even a dose of
traditionalism to "fight the good fight." It is only through this componential mix
of knowledge and character that we can work to build a stronger, more resilient
industry, rather than be lured away by more superficial endeavors which fall far
short of those beholden to agribusiness.
Urner Barry is proud of the role which we are privileged to play in providing
the data that helps feed the world; a role in which we have been immersed in
since 1858. And yet, after 165 years, we are standing at the doorstep of what
is perhaps the greatest opportunity ever made available to our customers. Like
most opportunities, it won't come without a few challenges, but the end goal
of providing the critical data and insights to help participants make the most
informed business decisions possible will not change. What will be different is
our ability to expand our reach to over 20,000 commodities, provide a broader,
more inclusive range of forecasting services and develop a reworked toolbox
designed with the ultimate goal of mitigating exposure to risk.
Speaking of forecasting, one's toolbox, and mitigating risk, in October, Chicago
will once again be the host town for Urner Barry's 2023 Global Protein
Summit at the InterContinental Miracle Mile. I hope to have the opportunity
to meet many of you throughout the exceptional networking receptions on the
agenda at this fantastic event. Please plan on attending.
In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your feedback on this issue. We
have an expanded platform of ideas and insights to share, brought to you by
the team of contributors you have come to rely upon, along with a few new
names you'll quickly come to recognize and look forward to reading their
probing content.
Stay in touch…
Russell W. Whitman
Senior Editor
rwhitman@urnerbarry.com
SENIOR EDITOR
Russ Whitman
MANAGING EDITOR
Amanda Buckle
CONTRIBUTORS
the newsmagazine for the
food industry professional
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